XN000022-1986-09-13 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. 1986

REFERRING TO THE SYSTEM OF DELIVERING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG, DR THONG SAID THAT SERVICES FOR INFAT- AND CHILDREN HAD UNDERGONE CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES.

AT THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL, HE SAID, THE NUMBER OF FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE CENTRES HAD INCREASED FROM 19 TO 44.

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AT THE SAME TIME, PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTH EDUCATION, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, INCLUDING FAMILY PLANNING, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING, CHILD ASSESSMENT, GENETIC COUNSELLINE AND NEONATAL SCREENING HAD ALL BEEN DEVELOPED AND STRENGTHENE,

DR TMONG NOTED THAT AT THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY LEVEL WIDE RANGE OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES HAD AL SC BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH A NETWORK OF HOSPITALS, MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRES AND CLINICS.

REGARDING HEALTH INDICES, DR THONG SAID IN THIS RESPECT HONG KONG COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH MANY ADVANCED COUNTRIES.

IN 1985, HE SAID, THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE WAS 7.6 PER 1 000 LIVE BIRTHS; THE MATERNAL MORTALITY PATE 0.05 PER 1 000 TOTAL BIRTHS AND THE PERINATAL MORTALITY RATE 7.7 PER 1 000 TOTAL DIRTHS. LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR MALES WAS 73 YEARS AND FOR FEMALES 79 YEARS.

ON THE PATTERN OF CHILDHOOD DISEASES, DR THONG SAID THIS +HAD CHANGED FOR THE BETTER+.

THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF AN EXPANDED PROGRAMME OF IMMUNISATION SINCE THE 1960'S, ALL THE VACCINE-PREVENTABLE CHILDHOOD DISEASES HAD EITHER VIRTUALLY BEEN ERADICATEL OR BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.

+NOWADAYS, CONGENITAL ANOMALIES, PREMATURITY WITH RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME AND ACCIDENTAL INJURIES HAVE BECOME THE LEADING CAUSES OF ILLNESS OR DEATHS AMONG INFANTS AND CHILDREN, HE NOTED. DR THONG ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NOW ALSO AN INCREASING AWARENESS CONCERNING METABOLIC DISORDERS IN CHILDREN.

HE FELT THAT THE THEME OF THE SYMPOSIUM ON CALCIUM, PHOSPHATE AND MINERAL NUTRITION WAS MOST TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE IN THE LIGHT OF A CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF DISEASES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

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